Title : The Spatial and Temporal Variation of Sound Speed in the California Current System off Monterey, Calif.

Descriptive Note : Master's thesis,

Corporate Author : NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CALIF

Personal Author(s) : Hughes,John George

Report Date : DEC 1975

Pagination or Media Count : 108

Abstract : The horizontal sound speed in an area of complex oceanographic structure was described using cross sections obtained from six nonconsecutive monthly lines of STD observations at a 5.5 km sampling interval off Monterey, California. The sound speed field for each section was determined and visually analyzed. Cross-correlation functions of vertical sound speed gradients averaged over 2 m and 10 m increments were computed between stations. Cross-correlation coefficients between stations were computed for detrended sound speed profiles sampled at 2 m depth increments. Sound speed was an excellent descriptor of water mass features. On depth scales greater than 10 m, well defined sound speed field features showed horizontal extents of less than 11 km in some cases. On vertical scales of 2 to 10 m horizontal extents of less than 11 km were also evident. Sound speed profiles showing similarities on the scale of 2 to 10 m tended to occur at 27.5 to 38.5 km intervals.